Rheumatoid arthritis, ‘Speak louder than your RA’ campaign kicks off

During the months of the Covid-19 emergency there was a significant decrease in access to rheumatology clinics, with an increase in risk linked to less control of rheumatic diseases, first of all rheumatoid arthritis, and less therapeutic adherence. The video launched by AbbVie under the patronage of Anmar-National Association of Rheumatic Diseases Onlus, as part of the information campaign on rheumatoid arthritis ‘Speak louder than your RA’, starts from this consideration, to raise awareness on proactive and constructive dialogue between patients and rheumatologist, and the importance behind effective disease management. The exceptional testimonial and narrator of the video is Silvia Tonolo, president of Anmar, who tells the current moment of transition towards the exit from the pandemic, hoping for a return to a normality which, for the rheumatic patient, also and above all means returning to take care of their illness. “Today we are far from affections and from everyday life. Out of fear we have given up so much, sometimes even to take care of our rheumatoid arthritis. The distance from the doctor and from the goal of getting better has grown. It is time to make up for lost time. to overcome the limits of the disease “. This message opens the emotional video of the campaign, available from this morning on the ABbVie Fb page: https://fb.watch/66XooUy0Zu/. In 30 seconds there is an invitation to all patients to be active protagonists of their own treatment path, and a spur to resume the proactive dialogue with their rheumatologist specialist to improve the management of the disease towards the achievement of the therapeutic goal: remission. In fact, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic and degenerative joint disease. However, thanks to an early diagnosis, effective treatments, an optimal and continuous therapeutic strategy, over time it is possible to obtain a condition of control of the main symptoms and all the manifestations of activity of the pathology up to, in 50% of patients , remission and a consequent improvement in people’s quality of life. Timeliness, therapeutic appropriateness and close collaboration between patient and doctor: these are the key words for optimal management of the disease. Hence Tonolo’s appeal to patients: “Today there are new possibilities to improve the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Don’t let the pandemic be a brake on asking for help, talk to your rheumatologist”. In Italy rheumatoid arthritis affects about 300 thousand people and every year about 5 thousand new cases are recorded (4-13 every 100 thousand men and 13-36 every 100 thousand women). The disease can occur at any age, most commonly between the ages of 40 and 70, although the peak of onset of symptoms occurs between the ages of 35 and 45. ‘Speak Louder Than Your AR’ is an initiative promoted by AbbVie – with the patronage of Anmar and Sir (Italian Society of Rheumatology) – as part of the international ‘Talk over RA’ campaign. The campaign’s main tool is the website www.missioneremissione.it, where patients can find information on what they can get when they “speak out loud” about their condition, as well as practical tools such as a guide that will help them tell their disease. , to discuss it with the rheumatologist sharing his own.